Todd Frazier article from Reds website

[OnBaseMachine]

Frazier heating up in winter ball
Reds prospect continues ascent with stellar stats in Hawaiian League

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- Todd Frazier is likely a couple of seasons from reaching the Major Leagues with the Reds. However, while not yet on final approach, the shortstop has definitely reached the big league radar screen.

Frazier, 22, completed his 2008 season in high Class A Sarasota after starting the year in Class A Dayton. At both stops, he hit well with some power -- batting .291 with 19 home runs, 74 RBIs and a .368 on-base percentage.

"He's very impressive," said Reds general manager Walt Jocketty, who got a chance to see Frazier play at Sarasota this summer. "He's a guy that has a chance to move up quickly. He's a very competent hitter, confident, too."

The hitting hasn't stopped in the Hawaii Winter Baseball League, where Frazier is playing for Waikiki and batting .312 (24-for-77) with two homers and 18 RBIs in 21 games. The four-team league is comprised mostly of touted prospects from the Class A ranks, and it also has international players from Asia. Cincinnati's 2008 first-round pick and first baseman Yonder Alonso also plays for Waikiki.

Frazier was a supplemental first-round pick (34th overall) by Cincinnati in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, and he cruised through rookie ball while batting .319. He ended the 2007 season and began '08 at Dayton before joining Sarasota by early May.

As he continues to move through the system, Frazier should be used to the increased attention. In 1998, he starred for the Toms River, N.J., team that won the Little League World Series. Frazier went 4-for-4 with a homer in the championship game against Japan.

While playing in college, Frazier was a three-year star for Rutgers and was named an All-American by Baseball America after his junior year in 2007.

There's a possibility that Frazier might not reach the Majors as a shortstop. His 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame makes him more suited for being a corner infielder or corner outfielder. He's frequently played third base, first base and left field since turning pro.

The organization also has other young shortstop prospects on the horizon, such as Chris Valaika with Double-A Carolina and Paul Janish and Adam Rosales -- who spent most of this season at Triple-A Louisville.

Jocketty didn't rule out shifting Frazier away from shortstop.

"It's something we might address in Spring Training," Jocketty said.

Wherever he ends up in the field, Frazier's blip on the radar screen should be growing much louder over the next couple of seasons.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=cin

[Mario-Rijo]

I think anybody would be crazy to think he hasn't got a fair chance of a September callup. He will undoubtedly start at AA and could be in AAA by the AS break IMO. That would then give him a fair shot at a callup. If it weren't for giving him time to hone his defensive position whatever that might be (probably 3B) he'd be a no doubter callup.

I presume he will play 3rd with the occasional start in LF throughout the season. Being a former SS he should get acclimated to 3rd rather quickly. At least I hope he gets that chance, regardless it might be telling about EE's job security or lack thereof.

[RedlegJake]

I think anybody would be crazy to think he hasn't got a fair chance of a September callup. He will undoubtedly start at AA and could be in AAA by the AS break IMO. That would then give him a fair shot at a callup. If it weren't for giving him time to hone his defensive position whatever that might be (probably 3B) he'd be a no doubter callup.

I presume he will play 3rd with the occasional start in LF throughout the season. Being a former SS he should get acclimated to 3rd rather quickly. At least I hope he gets that chance, regardless it might be telling about EE's job security or lack thereof.

Regardless, you have to like his chances of being a 2010 starter.

[princeton]

Jocketty didn't rule out shifting Frazier away from shortstop.

"It's something we might address in Spring Training," Jocketty said.

"Todd, don't think of this as a chest protector; think of it as a vehicle that you can drive to the major leagues."

[Scrap Irony]

Amen. I love the idea of Frazier at catcher, but doubt the Reds risk his bat donning the tools of ignorance.

[schmidty622]

A line up of:

Stubbs/Dickerson CF
Votto LF
Frazier 3B
Alonzo 1B
Bruce RF
Phillips 2B
Valaika SS
Hanigan C

Would be pretty sick in 2010.

[klw]

A line up of:
Would be pretty sick in 2010.

And young enough you could treat it with Kids Tylenol

[Nasty_Boy]

Imagine if Bailey, Thompson, and/or Ramirez/Maloney pan out to go along with possibly Fisher, Manuel, and Stewart in the bullpen. The amount of hope that a solid farm system brings is amazing. Until the last 3-4 years you had to hope that the Reds struck gold with retreads or pulled off a trade for prospects while crossing your fingers that 1 of them panned out. With youth brings hope!

[camisadelgolf]

A line up of:

Stubbs/Dickerson CF
Votto LF
Frazier 3B
Alonzo 1B
Bruce RF
Phillips 2B
Valaika SS
Hanigan C

Would be pretty sick in 2010.

That's also not to mention who could theoretically be on the bench:
C Wilkin Castillo/Craig Tatum
IF Edwin Encarnacion
IF Jeff Keppinger/Adam Rosales/Paul Janish/Danny Richar/Justin Turner
OF Danny Dorn
OF Chris Heisey/Sean Henry/Shaun Cumberland

I like how that looks, but as we all know, pitching is at least as important.

SP Volquez
SP Harang
SP Cueto
SP Arroyo
SP Bailey, Thompson, Owings, Ramirez, Maloney
RP Cordero
RP Burton
RP Bray
RP Roenicke
RP Herrera
RP Fisher
RP Manuel

That's a lot of young talent that, all together, could be a very low payroll.

Seriously, Walt . . . don't screw this up.

[princeton]

A line up of:

Stubbs/Dickerson CF
Votto LF
Frazier 3B
Alonzo 1B
Bruce RF
Phillips 2B
Valaika SS
Hanigan C

Would be pretty sick in 2010.

sick which way?

I recall the fans waiting in high anticipation for Householder/Redus/Walker/Kniceley to join Esasky/Concepcion/Oester/Driessen